The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-12-24

The Good Fortune that has Fallen to
Mrs. Bassett and her Children.

''A~~ sA'~ ~~ANA$NAANAtV OVOA WIG maj
velous discoveries of gold brought
thousands of fortune seekers to the
new Ell Dorado, Mr.. Abner Bassett,
the husband of Mrs. Bassett, now
residing here, was carried westward
with the great human tide that
flowed by land and sea to the Golden
State. There, in the flush times,
he carried OH a lucrative business,
and confident that in coming years
California would become a great
state, he, with his partner. Mr.. j.
$. Emery, purchased a Spanish
grant, comprising about % square
miles of land located on Carmel
Bay, seven miles from the town of
Monterey. Shortly after the pur-
chase was made other claimants
put in ali appearance and attempted
to show prior title to that of
Messrs. Bassett & Emery, and for
about thirty years cloud has rested
upon the title to the valuable tract.
Mr.. Bassett died in Nevada in 1870,
and making his wife executrix of
the property she has the
DEFENDING OF THE RIGHTS
Of herself and eight children on
her hands. The question of title
came up before Judge Hoffman, of
the U. s. district court, at San
Francisco, some three years ago,
and after hard struggle decision
was rendered in favor of the heirs
of Mr.. Bassett and his partner Mr..
Emery, and against those who
claimed possession of the land.
Witnesses were brought from Spain
by whom it was expected to show
that the grantor to Bassett & EN-
cry had no title, but the effort to
establish this fact failed. During
all the intervening years from the
time Of the purchase, the applica-
ton to secure a patent to the land
has been stubbornly resisted, Civ
ing to Mrs. Bassett and her chill
dren no end of trouble, but they
never wavered, feeling confident
that the end would come in time,
and they would enjoy undisputed
possession of their part Of the
property. And SO it has resulted.
Mrs. Bassett during the week has
received word from Mr.. Emery that
a patent had
AT LAST BEEN ALLOWED,
And the document would be in
their possession shortly after the
first Of January next. The, prop
erty over which such a struggle has
been made has yearly advanced in
value. A coal mine is located on
the tract, and large portions of it
are covered with valuable timber.
1t has been roughly estimated that
the property is now worth in the
of three millions of
dollars, one-half OF which belongs |
to Mrs. Bassctt, her six sons and
two daughters, all of whom are
living and, with the exception of
two, reside in Ketchum. During |
The long controversy over the title
> number of squatters have located
On the land, but with a patent
secured these parties will have to
gacate their homes or make salts
factory terms with the rightful
owners. Mrs. Bassett has given
Der son Abner a power of attorney
o.act for her, who expects to shortly
GO TO SAN FRANCISCO
And meet Mr.. Emery and consult
With him regarding the property.
He will also represent his brothers
md sisters in the matter. The
many friends of the Bassett boys
will congratulate them on the
,appy outcome of the long and
edious litigation. This has been
lucky year to them. AS leasers
f the Ophir mine on Boulder
they were fortunate in
triking q bonanza of ore and now
hey have another one Of huge d.
nensions on their hands which is
n no danger of pinching out, and
Fill never be handicapped by ex-
essive freight rates, but grow more
nd more in value as time pro-
resses.